KEY BENEFITS OF USING SERVICED APARTMENTS
The UK serviced apartment sector has grown very rapidly over the last 4 years.
Virtually every major UK city can now offer a range of serviced apartments as a serious alternative to hotel accommodation. The Association of Serviced Apartment Providers (ASAP) can confirm this trend. Its membership has more than doubled in the last 4 years and its 60 members now collectively represent in excess of 12,000 properties in the UK and Ireland.
David Smith, Chairman of the ASAP, confirms the key reasons for the increased popularity in this sector: ‘A serviced apartment is the ideal solution for the business traveller and especially for expatriates relocating to the UK. It provides a fully furnished self-contained flat with separate areas to sleep, work and eat, so it offers a more complete ‘home-from-home’ experience where you can properly relax and enjoy more privacy. A key benefit is the extra space offered – you can expect 30% more space than a comparable standard of hotel room'.
Serviced apartments are a very cost-effective option offering excellent value for money – there are no expensive ‘extras’ to consider such as hotel minibars, restaurants and room service. Guests appreciate the flexibility to prepare their own meals and not be restricted by hotel restaurant opening times. Many operators provide a generous ‘welcome pack’ of groceries to ensure guests have sufficient food for the first 24 hours of their stay.
Families relocating especially appreciate the more spacious living environment which serviced apartments offer. Children, in particular, benefit from having enough room to have more of their personal possessions around them which is so important when settling in to a new country. Staying in a 2- or 3-bedroom apartment means children can have their own bedrooms; in smaller apartments extra beds for children can be easily arranged.
The fully equipped kitchen is a key feature. It will normally include a cooker/microwave, fridge-freezer and dishwasher, as well as an extensive range of crockery, cutlery, glassware and kitchen utensils. And while most serviced apartments offer a laundry service, families enjoy the convenience of having a washer/dryer provided within their serviced apartment which also saves them money. Bed linen, towels and toiletries will also be supplied. A weekly housekeeping service will be included, but a more frequent service can easily be arranged.
There is a wide product choice ranging from studios to 4-bedroom apartments and penthouse suites. Top of the range developments may even offer roof terraces or access to a swimming pool or gym. In this dynamic young industry the vast majority of developments are modern so you can expect contemporary, stylish interiors complete with mood lighting and the latest in-room technology.
Serviced apartments can be booked for one night, one week, or several months with the cost generally decreasing the longer the stay, (for stays of 28+ days the VAT element reduces to only 4%). A further advantage is that even for longer stays, there are no separate utility bills to worry about, since all these costs will be included in the overall price.
Apartments are normally in prime city locations, conveniently close to the place of work which delivers a further advantage – clients may be living only a very short walk away from their office, meaning minimal time is spent commuting.
Visit www.theasap.org.uk – for full details of the 60 members of the Association of Serviced Apartment Providers (ASAP). You can also search for suitable properties by city or company name and view the short video (accessed from the homepage) which provides a useful insight into the many benefits of staying in a serviced apartment.